Power of the Gayatri Mantra
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is revered as a Guru by millions worldwide. Yet, unlike the conventional spiritual master, Swami never followed the traditional path of initiating disciples by giving them spiritual initiation (mantra diksha) or a personal mantra. Swami’s message is open, universal, and all-inclusive. Aside from a few rare and exceptional cases, Swami has not personally initiated mantras to anyone. In fact, one incident involving the renowned biographer of Swami and translator of His discourses, Prof. Kasturi, beautifully illustrates this.
No Exclusive Mantras—Only Universal Truth
On one occasion, Prof. N. Kasturi approached Him with a heartfelt desire. He longed for spiritual initiation with a mantra from Swami, believing it would help him get closer to God. This happened in the holy city of Kashi (Varanasi), which Swami had visited in April 1961. Initially, Swami appeared to grant his wish, raising Prof. Kasturi’s hopes. However, after Prof. Kasturi completed all the obligatory preparatory rituals, including a dip in the holy river Ganga to receive a mantra, Swami did not give him one.
Deeply disappointed, Kasturi sat down to dine with Swami, visibly crestfallen. Swami noticed this and asked him the reason.
“Swami, You promised me a mantra, but You didn’t give me one,” Kasturi said.
Swami gently asked, “Why do you want a mantra?”
“To get closer to God,” Kasturi replied.
Swami leaned closer and lovingly whispered into his ear: “How much closer, Kasturi?”
That single question dissolved the very notion of distance between the seeker and the divine.
One Mantra That Swami Universally Recommended
Swami’s message is always clear - nothing is hidden, nothing is exclusive. Everything He came to give, He gave openly—through public discourses, recorded talks, and writings available to all in Sathya Sai Speaks and the Vahinis. Swami never advocated spiritual shortcuts. His path is for everyone to follow.
Yet, there is one powerful mantra that Swami repeatedly and universally recommended—privately and publicly, to men and women, children and elders, Indians and foreigners, irrespective of caste, creed, nationality, and religion.
That mantra is the Gayatri Mantra.
If Swami ever came close to “initiating” anyone with a mantra, it was through His tireless emphasis on the Gayatri mantra. He taught it, explained it, glorified it, and urged humanity to embrace it as a daily spiritual discipline. In fact, in His discourse on June 20, 1977, Swami says, “Never give up the Gayatri; you may give up or ignore any other mantra, but you should recite the Gayathri at least a few times a day. It will protect you from harm wherever you are—travelling, working, or at home.”
Gayatri: The Divine Mother of All
Swami often describes Gayatri as “Gayatri Chandasam mata”—the mother of all Vedas. He declares that Gayatri is not merely a mantra but the embodiment of all gods and goddesses. According to Him, the Gayatri mantra contains within itself the power, potency, and miraculous capabilities of all other mantras combined.
Gayatri is often depicted as a radiant divine mother with five faces. Swami explains that these five faces represent the five vital life forces (pancha pranas) that sustain human life, reminding us that Gayatri governs life itself.
Benefits of Gayatri Mantra
On August 23, 1995, Swami spoke extensively about the Gayatri mantra and revealed its deeper meaning:
“Sarva roga-nivarini Gayatri” (Gayatri is the reliever of all diseases).
“Sarva duhkha-parivarini Gayatri” (Gayatri wards off all misery).
“Sarva vancha phala-siddhi Gayatri” (Gayatri is the fulfiller of all desires).
Swami warned devotees never to treat the Gayatri casually. Even chanting it once, He said, can bestow immense benefit. But it should be done in all sincerity and faith.
What follows are direct experiences of devotees on the power of Gayatri
When One Chant Could Have Changed Destiny
Dr. Vijai Kumar, in his book The Avatar’s Prescription, recounts a deeply moving incident from 1985.
During an interview, Swami spent considerable time interacting lovingly with a six-year-old girl—talking to her about simple things and even advising her on where to place Swami’s photograph at home so she could see Him from every room. Meanwhile, the child’s mother sat silently, tears streaming down her face—not tears of joy, but of profound grief. Observers were puzzled. They wondered why Swami was giving so much attention to the child and not to her mother, who seemed to need it more!
Swami then quietly whispered to the devotees present: “Kanishka… Air India.”
The Air India Kanishka flight had been blown up mid-air by terrorists, killing everyone on board. Everyone present understood that the child’s father was among the victims!
Later, Swami made a very deep and powerful statement:
“There were more than 250 people on that aircraft. If even one of them had chanted the Gayatri Mantra, the story would have been different.”
What that “different story” might have been, Swami did not explain. But the implication shook everyone present and reveals the unfathomable protective power of Gayatri. It has the capacity not just to change one person’s destiny but also the destiny of hundreds!
Gayatri as the Supreme Protective Shield
The very word Gayatri can be broken as:
“Gayantam trayate iti Gayatri”
That which protects the one who chants it. This protection is not symbolic; it is tangible.
Group Captain Yashas, who served in the Indian Air Force as a pilot for 29 years and also taught the Awareness Course at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, always recites the Gayatri mantra. He discovered during a medical checkup that his Vitamin D levels were critically low, below 4 ng/mL, when the normal level is around 30 ng/mL. Many experts recommend maintaining a level between 20 and 40 ng/mL for good health.
Captain Yashas did just one thing.
Every day, during Brahma Muhurta (the sacred pre-dawn hours), he began chanting the Gayatri 108 times. A few months later, on a hunch, he repeated his medical tests. His Vitamin D level had risen to over 26, near normal. No medication. No dietary change. Only the power of Gayatri.
Even in his late seventies, he remains energetic and healthy, with the vitality of someone decades younger.
Protection on an Icy Road to Destiny
Another extraordinary account comes from Mr. Stig Meincke of Copenhagen, published earlier in Sathya Sai -The Eternal Companion,
During a severe snowstorm, Mr. Meincke received an urgent call: his mother-in-law, living in Vordingborg, over 100 km away, had a medical emergency. Authorities had advised everyone to stay home and not travel. Roads were buried under ice. In addition, the fuel in Mr. Meincke’s car was low. Yet, with no other option, despite official warnings against travel and treacherous road conditions, the couple was determined to drive to Vordingborg.
Thick snow covered the roads, visibility was extremely poor, and conditions worsened as they drove on the highway. Feeling overwhelmed by the danger, Mr. Meincke surrendered the drive to Swami. At one point, the car completely lost control. In desperation, Mr. Meincke let go of the steering wheel, folded his hands, surrendered, and began chanting the Gayatri mantra. Miraculously, the car stabilized and began moving smoothly—even at high speed—on ice-covered roads. When he touched the steering wheel again, the car lost control. When he let go, it corrected itself to go smoothly. Throughout the journey, they continuously chanted the Gayatri mantra, trusting completely in divine potency and protection.
The car moved swiftly and smoothly through deep snow, passing stalled vehicles without incident. After just over an hour, they reached his mother-in-law’s home. The on-call doctor, who had also just arrived, was astonished by their short travel time under such conditions and noted that the short distance he had to drive had taken much longer. The mother-in-law was found to be safe. The experience left the couple reflecting in awe on the profound miracle of divine love and protection.
Gayatri had protected everyone, on the road and at home.
Gayatri and Inner Peace
At the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School (SSSHSS) in 2017, Grade 10 students from the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School collectively undertook the sadhana of chanting the Gayatri mantra daily. They did this very seriously as a group sadhana, chanting the mantra whenever they could.
The results were astonishing. The class prepared well and produced exceptional academic performance in the Board Examinations. Apart from that, these students also excelled in their sports and extracurricular achievements. At the same time, the students demonstrated remarkable discipline and calm, becoming exemplars for the whole school.
Coincidentally, a group of researchers arrived the same year to conduct scientific studies on stress levels across student groups. While the national average for students was around 50/100, the students in the SSSHSS had levels of just 25!
One class—the tenth graders chanting Gayatri recorded an amazingly low stress level of 3!
When, Where, and How to Chant Gayatri
Traditionally, the Gayatri mantra is chanted three times a day, at sunrise, noon, and sunset. However, Swami emphasizes that the Gayatri can be chanted at any time. There is no overdose! The Gayatri mantra can be chanted anywhere and at any time!
Chanting this mantra while bathing transforms the bath into an abhishekam (sacred anointing of deity). Chanting it before eating transforms the food into prasadam. Chanting the Gayatri while walking transforms the walk into pradakshina (circumambulation). Thus, every action or work becomes worship through the power of the Gayatri.
Everyone can chant this mantra, and Swami imposes no restrictions based on age, gender, religion, or nationality. However, He emphasizes that it must be done with reverence, devotion, and sincerity—never casually.
Gayatri: The Breath of Life
The Gayatri mantra grants worldly benefits, no doubt, but the true purpose of chanting is higher. It is to illumine the intellect to achieve oneness with the divine, a permanent place at His lotus feet.
May the Gayatri mantra become our life breath.
May it protect, heal, guide, and awaken us.
And may our love for Swami grow stronger with every passing moment.
Aravind Balasubramanya
India